Wookey Hole balloon launch - 16th October 2010

The Wookey Hole balloon launch takes place over a weekend in mid October in rural Somerset, England.

The photos below are from the launch on thee afternoon of Saturday 16th October, from approx 4.30pm - the wind conditions were variable with some strong gusts at times.

The meet featured several one man hopper type balloons - the pilot sits in a simple chair frame with the gas container right behind him - no comfy wicket basket!

First to launch was G-CCSI a Cameron Z-42 balloon in the colurs of IKEA.

Second to launch was a brand new Lindstrand Cloudhopper G-NLCH in the colours of Norwich Lighting Centre.

Third to depart was PH-ZSL a Sky 25-16 from The Netherlands - this balloon was previously G-BZSL and was sold to Holland in 2009.

Next up was G-CBIH a Cameron Z-31 in Cameron Balloons house colours.

Last to inflate was G-BOYO a Cameron V-20 - this hopper type balloon is shown here tethered - it might have flown later after my own departure.


Steve

Binisallem airfield Mallorca - Flight Design CT2K

A few miles east of the town of Binisallem ( close to the large town of Inca ) lies the small dirt airfield of Binissalem. I understand that the airfield has only been in operation for about 5 years.

At the time of my visit in August 2010 there were 10 small tin hangers all in one row - although most of them were locked up many of them had plenty of small holes to view the based aircraft - I logged 20 aircraft but I would estimate that maybe another 5 or 6 remained unidentified.

Seen arriving here on 14th August 2010 was Flight Design CT2K EC-XCS - on the passenger seat was a large location beacon and inflatable raft - I suspect this aircraft may have arrived on a visit from mainland Spain. Over 1,400 examples of the CT have been built since 1997.

The official Spanish aircraft register shows EC-XCS was built in 2009 - I would be interested to know the official Flight Design construction number for this aircraft please.


One of the based aircraft was EC-FE5 a Tecnam P92 Echo - this aircraft is used by a local flying school at Binisallem.

EC-FE5 was built by Tecnam in Italy in 2005 and is c/n P92E-029.

Steve

Wells Somerset - Balloon launch 30th August 2010

This year 16 hot air balloons launched from the Palace Fields adjacent to the Bishops Palace in Wells, Somerset on the evening of Bank Holiday Monday 30th August 2010.

The balloons took off from approx 6.20pm and floated south towards Glastonbury. Among them were

G-POLY Cameron N-77 c/n 428 - this was the oldest balloon present built back in 1978 and features Pollywallets titles and a large pink elephant and some far out man colours. This balloon has spent its life registered to owners in the Bristol area and was transferred on to new owners in July 2010.

G-ULTR Cameron A-105 c/n 4100 has Ultrafilter titles and has been registered to the same Bristol based owner since built in 1997.

G-BOOZ Cameron N-77 c/n 904 was among the last few to depart - this balloon was built in 1983 and was originally based in North Yorkshire until 1989 when sold to the current owners in Wiltshire - this balloon had flown over 430 flight hours by 12.09.

G-FOWS Cameron N-105 c/n 3995 was built in 1996 and wears the titles of its original owners the Fowlers motorcycles dealership in Bristol, since sold on to private owners in the Bristol area.

G-CDWD Cameron Z-105 c/n 10827, this large balloon was built recently in 2006 and wears the colours of the University of Bristol Hot Air Ballooning Society.

G-BXVP is a Sky 31-24 c/n 056 one man balloon with Sky Balloons titles built in Wales - no basket just a chair frame for the pilot - real seat of the pants flying.  G-BXVP was built in 1998 - the current owner is based just down the road from Wells in Cheddar.

G-CCTS Cameron Z-120 c/n 10570 was built in 2004 and wears Snap Surveys titles - the balloon is based in the Bristol area.

G-CBLO Lindstrand LBL 42A c/n 854 is another example of a one man balloon - I would imagine that the sensation of flight must be fantastic with such a balloon. This balloon was built in 2002 and took on a new owner in 5.10 based in the Bath area.

G-CFEK Cameron Z-105 c/n 11176 is only just over 2 years old having been first registered in June 2008 and wears the titles of Penny Plant Hire and Demolition - I've seen this balloon float past Wells several times as it is locally based near Radstock.

Steve in Wells

Henstridge Fly In - 28th August 2010

Fair weather brought plenty of Fly In visitors although a strong cross wind proved tricky at times.

Escapade G-MCUB did well in the gusty wind - this Escapade is painted in typical Piper Cub colours and is marked "Mini Cub" on the tail.

Jodel D120 G-BHXS arrived from Plymouth - this aircraft was built in 1958 by Wassmer and has flown in excess of 6500 flight hours by 12.09.

G-BMWF ARV Super 2 c/n 013 was built in 1986 at Sandown on the Isle of Wight, UK  - the original two stroke Hewland engine has been replaced on this example by a Rotax 912 ULS. Approx 30 aircraft were built in the UK before production ceased in the 1980s. There are plans to build the aircraft as a LSA aircraft known as the Opus in the USA.

The visiting aircraft park was opened to spectators after lunch - shown here is G-CBIF a Jabiru UL-450 designed in Australia and was kit built in 2002 by a builder in Suffolk, UK. Today this aircraft is owned and based in Somerset and has flown over 300 flight hours by 12.09

Late arrival mid afternoon was Fournier RF-4D G-BXLN c/n 4022 - this single seat motor glider was designed by Rene Fournier and built by Sportavia Putzer GMBH in Germany in 1967. Approx 150 examples of the RF-4D were built. This aircraft is based at Seighford, Staffordshire and was visiting Henstridge en route back home after a weekend trip down to Lands End & the Scilly Isles via several other airfields.

G-BYBR Rans S6-116 Coyote II c/n PFA 204A-13081 taking off after the event  - this microlight aircraft was built in 1999 from a factory supplied kit by the original owner in Lancashire, UK. In 2007 the aircraft moved south after it was sold to a pilot in Devon, UK. 


External Link to official RANS website 

Another RANS S6 Coyote II was G-WZOY c/n PFA 204-14735 - this S6-ES aircraft features a tail wheel rather than a nose wheel. The aircraft is based at Westonzoyland airfield in Somerset - hence registration "WZOY". This aircraft was built in 2008.


Todate RANS have produced approx 2,000 examples of the S6 since production began in 1989.




Steve

N787BX Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Farnborough 2010

Dreamliner N787BX arrived at Farnborough, UK on Sunday 18th July 2010 - this was the first time the Boeing 787 had been shown outside of the USA.

This aircraft is the third ( ZA 003 ) Boeing 787 to be built by Boeing and has construction number c/n 40692. This aircraft flew for the first time on 14th March 2010 at Paine Field, Seattle, WA, USA.

For many the Dreamliner was the star attraction at this years Farnborough Air Show 2010 - the aircraft was displayed in the static park on Monday 19th July and Tuesday 20th July. The aircraft is made primarily of carbon fibre composite materials. The lighter weight improves fuel efficiency and aircraft range - it also allows the passenger cabin to be pressurised to a more comfortable level than conventional airliners and allows for larger cabin windows.

The photo above shows 787 N787BX being towed out of the static display on the afternoon of Tuesday 20th July 2010 before departing back to Boeing at Seattle, USA. Upon departure the 787 returned to do one flypast at Farnborough with a World War 2 Spitfire alongside each wingtip before heading towards East Midlands airport for a flypast and again at the Rolls Royce factory at Debry ( the aircraft in powered by two Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines )  - N787BX continued on to the west coast of Ireland where it landed for fuel at Shannon airport before the long flight to Seattle.

The first UK customer to receive the Boeing 787 will be Thomson Airlines who are due to receive 8 aircraft from 2012 onwards.

Steve

N610AT AT-6 at Farnborough July 2010

The Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 made its first appearance outside of the USA at this years Farnborough Air Show in the UK.

The AT-6 is a development of the T-6 Texan II trainer and is designed to offer close air support and reconnaissance patrols in counterinsurgency war environments. The aircraft has a strengthen airframe and six underwing hardpoints.

The aircraft shown at Farnborough was N610AT c/n AT-1 and it features an L-3 Wescam targetting turret on the under fuselage, plus HOTAS controls ( allows more time for the pilot to keep his eyes outside of the cockpit in combat ).

In April 2010 N610AT completed a two week Joint Expedtitionary Forces Experiment ( JEFX ) demonstration exercise operating out of Nellis AFB in Nevada,USA operating alongside the A-10C.

N610AT will shortly be re-engined with an upgrade P&W PT6A-68D developing 1,600 shp. A second AT-6 prototype N620AT has now joined the program and flew for the first time in April 2010.

The AT-6 will also receive a defensive aids suite before participating in the USAF Light Attack Armed Reconnaissance ( LAAR ) aircraft program that could lead to order from the US military and foreign military sales.

More information on the AT-6 can be found on the link below

http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military_and_special_mission/light_attack.aspx



Steve

USMC UH-1Y - 167802 coded "VT-09" of HMLA-367

Among the many aircraft at Farnborough 2010 was Bell UH-1Y Bu No 167802 operated by USMC squadron HMLA-367 coded "VT-09". The unit has the nickname "Scarface".

 
The UH-1Y is currently in production by Bell Helicopters and is replacing the older UH-1N. The UH-1Y is equipped with a modified four-blade, all-composite rotor and has upgraded engines and transmissions to give it increased payload and performance capabilities. Under the nose is a Brite Star Block II FLIR. This system  allows the pilots to view and mark targets with infrared sightings further out and aid in visual target recognition.

 
HMLA-367 were the first unit to deploy with the new UH-1Y to Afghanistan - they arrived at Camp Bastion, Helmand province in October 2009 from their own home base at Camp Pendleton, California, USA. The unit returned to the USA in May 2010.

The badge of HMLA-367 on the nose of this helicopter has been adapted to incorporate the outline shape of Afghanistan.

This UH-1Y 167802 was accepted into service from Bell Helicopters in August 2009 and the c/n appears to be 97499 ?  However others suggest the c/n is 55110.

More information on the UH-1Y can be found on the Bell Helicopters website below

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/military/bellUH-1Y.cfm


Steve

Kemble - 12.7.2010

Kemble is always worth a look, among the many interesting aircraft here today were

Technoavia SMG-92 Turbo Finist HA-YDF c/n 001-05 was built in 2000. This attractive aircraft is used for parajumping and is currently operating from the nearby airfield of South Cerney. It is shown here parked by the Tower at Kemble. The Finist is a rugged all metal aircraft designed in Russia and the type was first flown in the 1990s. The aircraft is built at Smolensk, Russia before being fitted out to SMG-92 spec by Aerotech at Bratislava, Slovakia. This aircraft is fitted with a Walter M601D-2 turboprop.


The storage and scrapping of retired airliners continues with pace at Kemble. Since my last visit at the end of May 2010 it was good to see A300 EI-OZA now parked away from the scrapping area and apparently complete near the Middair hangers. Inside these hangers was the newly arrived ex JAT Boeing 737 YU-AOS.

F-GFKN Airbus A320 c/n 128 in the process of being scrapped at Kemble. This former Air France airliner was built in 1990 - it arrived at Kemble on 22nd April 2010 from Paris CDG after 20 years of short haul operations across Europe.


Steve

Nympsfield - 12th July 2010

The airfield at Nympsfield is located high up on the hills a few miles south of Stroud, Gloucestershire along the B4066 towards Dursley.

The airfield is home to the Bristol and Gloucestershire Gliding Club ( BGGC ) and also Targett Aviation.

G-DEWR Grob G 103A Twin II Acro c/n 33894-K-132 coded "P70" is part of the BGGC training fleet. This particular glider has an interesting history. It was originally delivered new from Grob in Germany in 1985 as a Viking T1 training glider with military serial ZE525 ( also allocated BGA 3015 Trigraph EWR  ) to the RAF for use by Air Cadets within the Volunteer Gliding Squadron ( VGS ) system.

In January 1990 ZE525 was damaged when a VGS hangar collapsed at Predannack, Cornwall - I saw it myself hangared at RAF Syerston in October 1990 with rear fuselage damage. The glider was subsequently rebuilt and passed on to the Royal Air Force Gliding and Soaring Association ( RAFGSA ) where it operated with tail code "R70" by the Anglia Gliding Club based at RAF Wattisham, Suffolk.

This glider was bought by the BGGC at Nympsfield in 2006 and flown as BGA 3015  - the "R70" tailcode was easily changed to "P70" ( "R number" tail codes are reserved for the RAFGSA ). In December 2007 the glider was registered with the CAA as G-DEWR as part of the process of bringing modern gliders onto the Civil Aviation Authority controlled UK aircraft register - thanks to Richard Cawsey for help with the above.

G-CFYV Schleicher ASK 21 c/n 21468 is operated by the Bristol and Gloucestershire Gliding Club - this glider was first registered as BGA 3639 in 1990 with Trigraph tail code FYV. For many years it was based at Booker / High Wycombe.  In November 2007 this glider took up the CAA registration G-CFYV.



For more information about the BGGC visit their website via the link below

http://www.bggc.co.uk


Outside the Targett Aviation workshop at Nympsfield was the rare Phillips ST2 Speedtwin G-STDL.

G-STDL c/n PFA 207-12674 is the only example of this design in the UK. It was the second Speedtwin to be built and was originally registered as G-DPST in 1996 ( it became G-STDL in 2006 ). The Speedtwin was designed by Peter Phillips and the first example of this distinctive design was registered as G-GPST c/n PFA 207-11645 in 1990. This first example was sold to an owner in the USA in 2008.

G-STDL is a sleek tandem two seat all metal aircraft painted in a very distinctive two tone blue scheme and is currently fitted with twin Walter M332B engines.
   
For more information about Targett Aviation visit their website
 
http://www.sailplaneservices.co.uk/


Steve

G-DADZ - CZAW Sportcruiser

The Sportcruiser is an all metal low wing ultralight aircraft powered by either a Rotax 912 or a Jabiru 3330.

The aircraft type was designed by CZAW - Czech Aircraft Works and first flew in 2006. CZAW built 272 examples before the company changed name to Czech Sport Aircraft in 2009 - production continued onwards from c/n 09SC273.

The excellent Sportcruiser designed was tested and accquired by US manufacturer Piper and from January 2010 the aircraft was enhanced and re-badged to become the PiperSport. The PiperSport is still built at the CSA factory in Kunovice, Czech Republic and the first customer delivery was made in April 2010.

In the UK there are currently 83 examples of the Sportcruiser registered with the UK CAA - of these 68 examples were built from CZAW / CSA supplied aircraft kits - the other 15 examples were complete factory built aircraft.

Sportcruiser G-DADZ c/n LAA 338-14792 was registered in the UK in April 2008 and by Dec 2009 had flown over 120 flight hours. The photos above show G-DADZ departing from Compon Abbas airfield in Dorset, England in June 2010.


Link to official Czech Sports Aircraft website


Link to the official PiperSport webpage


Steve

Kemble - 26.5.2010

Kemble airfield is home to a very diverse range of aircraft from microlights, to airliners to ex military jets.

EI-OZA Airbus A300F ex DHL at Kemble

At the moment the airfield has more than a dozen old airliners stored or being scrapped - among them is EI-OZA. This Airbus A300F is still painted in the distinctive colour scheme of its former operator DHL.

EI-OZA is c/n 148 and was originally built in 1981 and delivered to Olympic Airways  of Greece as SX-BEG. It was a regular sight at London Heathrow during the 1980s/90s.

In 1998 the aircraft was converted from a passenger airliner to a cargo aircraft - it  entered freight service as F-GOZA in 1999 and became EI-OZA in 2002. In 2007 it joined the DHL fleet as OO-TIF.  Finally after 28 years of service this aircraft arrived at Kemble in August 2009 for storage.

In Febuary 2010 the aircraft was re-registered again as EI-OZA ( although it still has "IF" on the nose wheel door from OO-TIF ) so maybe it will escape the scrapman  - however it is currently parked right next to the scrap area at Kemble.

In the photo above behind EI-OZA is Boeing 737-600 SU-MWC previously operated by Midwest.


Parked close to the Control Tower at Kemble ( near the AV8 cafe ) is former RAF Buccaneer S2B XX889. This aircraft is painted in the desert pink colour scheme ( ARTF ) it wore during the first Gulf War in 1991 and is coded "T".

XX889 was built in 1974 and originally served with RAF Germany at Laarbruch airbase before being re-allocated up to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

 During the Gulf War it operated from Bahrain coded "T" - the aircraft has 14 bombing mission marks on the starboard side of the cockpit.

The Buccaneer was retired from RAF service in 1994 and XX889 was flown to RAF St Athan in Wales for a period of storage. Since then it has spent time at Staverton before moving on to Kemble in 2007.

For more information about the service life of this Gulf War veteran see the excellent link below

http://www.blackburn-buccaneer.co.uk/S2B_XX889_files/0_S2B_XX889.html


For more info on the preservation of this Buccaneer XX889 see link below


http://buccsociety.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=restorations&action=display&num=1166289875

Kemble is also home to a pair of ex RAF Canberra PR9 reconnaissance aircraft.  This photo shows XH134 which is currently registered as G-OMHD. This particular Canberra was built in 1959 by Short Brothers at Belfast NI, a total 23 PR9s were built. The PR9 version was operated by 39 sqd and 1 PRU was finally retired by the RAF in 2006.

The PR9 had operated in the sensitive reconnaissance role for many years, flying far and high looking over areas of interest.  These aircraft were home based at RAF Wyton ( 39 sqd then 1 PRU ) and latter RAF Marham ( 39 sqd ) but would often deploy overseas - for many years they flew out of Hong Kong before it was returned to China, in more recent times they operated over the Gulf and Afghanistan.

G-OMDH is currently owned by Midair SA but hasn't flown since arriving at Kemble in 2006. A second PR9 XH135 is adjacent to XH134.


 Steve

Old Sarum - 12th May 2010

A return visit to Old Sarum today found more interesting aircraft including the following

G-CGIX Rotorsport MTOsport autogyro - this aircraft is virtually brand new having been registered in March 2010 - the pilot told me it had flown just 8 flight hours so far. In recent weeks two gyros have been based at Old Sarum, this one and G-CDZZ and a poster in the cafe advertisies gyro flight training.

Click here for external LINK to MTOsport UK dealer web page

G-CFOG Ikarus C42 FB UK c/n PFA 322-14482 was a visitor and was built in 2006 - this is one of 33 examples currently registered as kit built C42s - another 100 factory built aircraft are also registered.

G-BJYK Jodel Wassmer D 120A Paris-Nice c/n 185 was a visitor today and is seen being hand re-fuelled at the AVGAS fuel pumps. This aircraft is now 50 years old having been built in 1960. It was originally registered as F-BJPK and took up a UK registration in May 1982.

G-ASVM is an early example of a Reims built Cessna F 172E c/n F172-0077 and was built in 1964 and originally imported by Westair Flying Services at Blackpool. Over the past 46 years this aircraft has had 15 registered owners and had flown over 3,850 flight hours by 12.09

G-BGWR Cessna U 206A Super Skywagon c/n U206-0653 operates as a parachute skydiving jump aircraft based at Old Sarum - note the fold up jump door. This aircraft was built in 1966 and operated in The Netherlands as PH-OTD before arriving in the UK in 1979 taking up registration G-BGWR.  In 1984 it was re-registered as G-DISC but reverted to G-BGWR in 1996. By 12.09 it had flown over 8,334 flight hours. 

N151CG Cirrus SR22 c/n 0344 was built in 2002 and I believe this is based at Old Sarum. This very popular aircraft is still in production with over 3,000 examples built.

Recently arrived at Old Sarum is this replica Royal Aircraft Factory BE2b bearing serial "2783". This full scale replica has been built at Boscombe Down by the members of the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection. It is a very impressive aircraft, I liked the large stitching binding the fuselage canvass together. I understand that "2783" represents the first aircraft to land at Boscombe Down back in 1917 . The BE2 served as a reconnaissance and light bomber during the early years of World War 1. There are no original surviving BE2 aircraft today in the UK - the RAF Museum at Hendon also exhibits a replica.

However a BE2f serial A1325 has recently returned to the air after a prolonged rebuild in New Zealand. The same company has also built a flying replica BE2c - more details on the very interesting website below

External Link to The Vintage Aviator Company of New Zealand

Steve

Bournemouth Hurn - 21.4.10

Bournemouth Hurn airport is a large airfield with many hangers and based operators scattered around the airport. There is a very good mixed range of aircraft to be seen here ranging from airliners, biz jets, general aviation and some older warbirds too.

Eurocopter EC 120B Colibri c/n 1463 wearing Bournemouth Helicopters titles by the engine. This smart helicopter was built in 2006 and delivered as F-HAAL. It was first registered in the UK in June 2007 as G-MKII operated by Bournemouth Helicopters - however they changed the registration to be G-SKPP in January 2010.

Piper Pa-28-161 Cadet c/n 2841015 was built in the USA in 1988 and was first registered in the UK as G-BPJP in December 1988. For many years this aircraft was based at Oxford Kidlington airport before arriving at Hurn in 2001. This aircraft had flown over 11,000 flight hours by Dec 2008.

G-CBLE Robin 2120U c/n 364 was built in France in 2002. G-CBLE was first registered in the UK in April 2002. Between 2004 - 2009 this aircraft was based at Cardiff airport.  By Dec 2007 this aircracft had flown over 2,000 flight hours.

Hurn is home to several multi engine flight training schools, among them is CTC Aviation who operate a fleet of four examples of the Diamond DA 42 Twin Star including G-CTCF c/n 42-045 shown here. This modern twin was built in Austria in 2005. I often here these CTC aircraft on my radio doing flight training and operating on the airways over the South West of England.


Steve